Appearing on NBC's "Today Show," Biden said he has already advised his family to avoid traveling in small spaces. "I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places right now," he said. "It's not that its going to Mexico, its that you are in a confined aircraft when one person sneezes, it goes everywhere through the aircraft. That's me."

"I would not be at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway," the vice president went on. "From my perspective, it relates to is mitigation. If you're out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes that's one thing. If you're in a closed aircraft, a closed container, closed car, a closed classroom, it's a different thing."

Biden's remarks could be interpreted as him advising viewers to avoid all travel. The vice president's staff quickly saw the mistake and issued a statement walking back Biden's remarks. Biden's spokeswoman, Elizabeth Alexander, said Biden was just reiterating President Obama's advice at Wednesday night's press conference.

"On the Today Show this morning the Vice President was asked what he would tell a family member who was considering air travel to Mexico this week," said Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander. "The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the Administration is giving to all Americans: that they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico. If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways. This is the advice the Vice President has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week."